Despite the deluge of media coverage of legalized marijuana and the opening Washington’s first retail marijuana stores, there’s still lots of people out there with lots of questions on how all this marijuana business actually works.

To answer those questions, the Capitol Hill Community Council has dedicated its entire Thursday meeting to discussing legal pot. The council has assembled a panel of experts that includes James Lathrop, who’s Cannabis City was the first retail pot shop to open in Seattle. Martin Martinez of Capitol Hill’s Lifevine Medical Group will be speaking about where medical dispensaries stand in the post-prohibition era.

Meanwhile, the owner of Mello Times, the only retailer within walking distance of Capitol Hill to make it through the state’s license lottery with a permit opportunity secured, told CHS his 24th and Union shop won’t be operating until later this summer at the earliest as he prepares the business for the long haul.

Presentations will be on the new pot laws and their implications for the Hill and Seattle generally.

City Councilmember Sally Clark will be attending and answering questions.

Chris Anderson from Calyx King will be speaking on the topic of growing and distribution.

Calyx King Consulting is a team of diverse professionals who’ve partnered together for more than a decade. in the ground-breaking, game-changing business of legal marijuana. Chris was an attorney with the Canna Law Group, the premier cannabis-specific business law practice, where he assisted cannabis-industry clients with all phases of business formation, licensing, operations, and regulatory compliance. He started his career as a commercial litigator at Perkins Coie LLP and spent five years in Microsoft’s Legal & Corporate Affairs, advising the Office of General Counsel and the company’s worldwide Operations leaders on strategic sourcing, multinational contracting, and departmental practice management. http://calyxking.com

Martin Martinez of Lifevine Medical Group (a not-for-profit membership organization of patients, who work together, pooling resources to produce the highest quality medical marijuana at the lowest cost) will also be there to discuss medical marijuana.

Unlike a buyer’s club or dispensary, Lifevine does not buy marijuana and resell it to patients. In a collective garden, qualifying patients share responsibility for the resources required to produce and process medical cannabis. Martin Martinez operates Lifevine Medical Group on Capitol Hill across the street from Group Health. http://medmj-wa.com

James Lathrop of Cannabis City will discuss the retail side of the new laws.

Cannabis City was he first store to open in the state selling legal marijuana for recreational use. http://cannabiscity.us

The Capitol Hill Community Council will meet Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 PM inside the Cal Anderson Shelter House